P63 – 2804: Chemoprophylaxis of tick-borne encephalitis in children

Abstract

Tick-borne encephalitis (TE) in children is a topical problem in Russia. Objective To assess the efficiency of antiviral preparation anaferon-for-children as a means for urgent chemoprophylaxis of TE in children. 980 patients aged from 2 to 17 years old complaining of a tick bite were observed. The basic group included 354 children (vaccinated, applied late and refused the introduction of a specific immunoglobulin, with allergic reactions to blood preparations), including 18 patients infected with TE virus. These children were administered anaferon-for-children as TE chemoprophylaxis. The comparison group included 626 patients, including 57 patients infected with TE virus who were intramuscularly introduced immunoglobulin with the preventive purpose. Methods Revealing of TE virus RNA in the blood by PCR method, examination of M and G antibodies in the blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and content of interferons alpha, beta, gamma in the blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results No child from the basic group had TE, and in the comparison group there were 93 patients with TE (14.9%). Only 1 patient of the basic group in a month after a tick bite had TE virus RNA revealed by PCR method, while in the comparison group there were 35 such patients (6%), and 4 children had it in 6 months. In the basic group there was a reliable increase of gamma-interferon concentration in the blood before and after the administration of anaferon, to a lesser degree of alpha and beta indicators. The dynamics of interferon was not observed in the comparison group. No side-effects and complications due to anaferon administration were revealed. Conclusion Urgent TE chemoprophylaxis in children by means of anaferon-for-children is effective and safe. Tick-borne encephalitis (TE) in children is a topical problem in Russia. To assess the efficiency of antiviral preparation anaferon-for-children as a means for urgent chemoprophylaxis of TE in children. 980 patients aged from 2 to 17 years old complaining of a tick bite were observed. The basic group included 354 children (vaccinated, applied late and refused the introduction of a specific immunoglobulin, with allergic reactions to blood preparations), including 18 patients infected with TE virus. These children were administered anaferon-for-children as TE chemoprophylaxis. The comparison group included 626 patients, including 57 patients infected with TE virus who were intramuscularly introduced immunoglobulin with the preventive purpose. Revealing of TE virus RNA in the blood by PCR method, examination of M and G antibodies in the blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and content of interferons alpha, beta, gamma in the blood by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. No child from the basic group had TE, and in the comparison group there were 93 patients with TE (14.9%). Only 1 patient of the basic group in a month after a tick bite had TE virus RNA revealed by PCR method, while in the comparison group there were 35 such patients (6%), and 4 children had it in 6 months. In the basic group there was a reliable increase of gamma-interferon concentration in the blood before and after the administration of anaferon, to a lesser degree of alpha and beta indicators. The dynamics of interferon was not observed in the comparison group. No side-effects and complications due to anaferon administration were revealed. Urgent TE chemoprophylaxis in children by means of anaferon-for-children is effective and safe.